HUNTSVILLE, Ala. --- The Chattanooga volleyball team bounced back in a big way from a season-opening defeat yesterday, with the Mocs claiming convincing 3-1 and 3-0 wins over Oral Roberts and Idaho, respectively, at the Betty Austin Invitational.
The Mocs were a well-oiled machine across multiple facets on Saturday, only dropping a set on the team's first doubleheader match day of the year. The wins set the Mocs up for a chance at taking home the Betty Austin Invitational title, with UTC aiming to beat out Southern Illinois for the crown.
"This team is exciting to watch," head coach Julie Torbett Thomas said. "We controlled the ball better allowing us to run the middle a lot. Kynli (Kirkendoll) and Chard'e (Vanzandt) were up for the task. We have a lot of options and this group really connected today."
To open the day, the Mocs were able to take down Oral Roberts 3-1 to earn UTC's first win of the 2024 season. After splitting the opening two sets with the Golden Eagles, the Mocs cruised their way to wins in the third and fourth sets to seal the victory.
The Mocs were headlined by numerous standout offensive performances in the match, led first and foremost by sophomore Breanah Rives who finished with a team-leading and career-high total of 20 kills. She was accompanied by Sydney Jackwin and Chard'e Vanzandt, who also each finished with double-digit kills (Jackwin – 17, Vanzandt – 13).
Elaine Redman also put on a setting masterclass for the Mocs, ending the match with 52 assists. Her assist total helped the Chattanooga, Tennessee, native officially surpass 3,000 career assists in her four-year playing career.
A total of five UTC players also notched double-digit digs against ORU, including Paige Gallentine (27), Rives (17), Chandler Alter (13), Redman (11) and Jackwin (10). Ultimately, this would mean that Rives, Redman and Jackwin would each finish the match with double-doubles.
Carrying their momentum from the first match of the day, the Mocs seemed unstoppable in their 5 p.m. matchup with Idaho.
UTC would open the match with a convincing 25-15 win in set one, followed by claiming an even more dominant 25-13 second. The Mocs then claimed their first sweep of 2024 by cruising to victory in the third set, winning the frame 25-16.
Chattanooga's biggest strength of match two came on the serve, with the team finishing with 13 total service aces. The Mocs were paced by Chandler Alter with four aces, and she was followed by Paige Gallentine (3) and Sydney Jackwin (3).
In the kills department, it was true freshman Kynli Kirkendoll that led the team as the Tulsa, Oklahoma, native finished with a team-leading 12. She was primarily fed by Elaine Redman, who ended the night with 30 total assists.
Defensively, Gallentine finished with a team-high 13 digs, the lone Mocs to finish with double-digits in the category. For blocks, it was once again Chard'e Vanzandt leading the way as the senior finished with three in the win.
The Mocs are now 2-1 to open the year and tournament, setting UTC up to contend for the tournament title in Sunday's final day of competition from Huntsville.
UP NEXT
Chattanooga now closes out its weekend at the Betty Austin Invitational on Sunday, September 1 by taking on tournament host Alabama A&M. The match is slated for a 1 p.m. ET with live stats available on the volleyball schedule page located on GoMocs.com.
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